If you’re looking for an amazing vacation spot, the Aeolean Islands won’t disappoint. Last summer we traveled there, in addition to Palermo and Taormina. If you watched the second season of The White Lotus, it was set in Palermo and Taormina but sadly they didn’t make it to the Aeoloean Islands!
A volcanic archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea, north of Sicily, the Aeolean Islands were the highlight of our vacation. There are two active volcanoes; one in Stromboli and one in Vulcano. You can see them during the day and more impressively at night. There are seven islands in all, each with its own unique personality. We noticed there weren’t many Americans there, which may be why many haven’t heard of this paradise of islands. The islands didn’t feel touristy, the water was crystal clear and everything was reasonably priced.
Getting there is a bit of a journey. Once you’re in Sicily, it’s a 2-3.5 hour ferry ride, depending on which port you use. The only way to fly in is via helicopter. We were there for a three short days, which wasn’t nearly enough, but we packed as much as we could into those three days.
All of the islands we visited had great food with an emphasis on seafood, friendly people and a relaxed atmosphere. They were all beautiful, boasting history and architecture reflective of their uniqueness.
Salina
Our home base was Salina, considered by many to be the prettiest island. It is known as the “Isola Verde” (the green island) and has a handful of vineyards. It’s also where “Il Postino” (The Postman) was filmed. These were views from our hotel:
Panarea
We chartered a boat to take us around the islands and our first stop was Panarea, the smallest of the seven islands. It’s known for being a place to get away from it all. It’s rumored to host many celebrities, influential and wealthy people. We docked in the only harbor on the island and enjoyed lunch with a view. We also wondered through the streets, stopping in several shops where many lesser-known Italian designs are showcased. I would love to see more of this beautiful, relaxing island!
Lipari
The largest island, Lipari is full of scenic spots, pebbled beaches and a happening port. There are streets bustling with sidewalk cafes. It has the feel of a small Italian town with an island atmosphere. We found beautiful, small churches, interesting architecture and great food. We learned that Lipari is a good base because there are multiple, fast ferry connections to Sicily and it’s easy to get to the other islands from there.
We don’t often plan to return to a place given our interest in traveling to places we haven’t been to before, but the Aeolean Islands are the exception… we can’t wait to go back! If you’re interested in more information, please reach out!
